On this day, October 20 in 1977, a petition was received by the Australian parliament about the importance of renewable energy and the effects of carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere.
Thursday, 20 October 1977
To the Honourable the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth that the undersigned persons believe:
That there should be more research into all fields providing energy sources such as uranium and its effects, solar energy, tidal energy, coal and the effects of carbon dioxide.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Mr Connolly (see below)
Petition received.
Source
[The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 331.28ppm. At time of writing it was 421ishppm- but for what it is now,well, see here for the latest.]
The context was this –
Australian environmentalists knew what was coming. They tried their best, but were defeated, basically.
Why this matters.
The failure pre-dates John Howard.
What happened next?
Australia kept burning coal. And exporting the stuff. And wants to keep doing so.